Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customising vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes – Dita Von Teese
This is TMOD
Introducing Georgie Swift and Milenka Osen, the clever design duo behind TMOD (Turn Me On Design). J’adore the antique feel of the scratchie card range (available from Paper2 and various other retailers) and swivel signet rings, in particular. Love the atmospheric, slightly eerie home page of their site, too – enjoy browsing.
Love Vintage Fair
1950s silk cocktail dress from Coco Repose stall
Don’t forget, Love Vintage starts tonight and runs all weekend out at Canterbury Racecourse. Come along and say hello – I’ll be speaking about A Life in Frocks at 3:30pm tomorrow on the main stage.
Woman of the week: Monica Trapaga
Do you know Monica? I’m sure you do, in one of her many guises – cookbook author (Monica wrote She’s Leaving Home, about the inspiring women in her life for daughter, Lil), avid collector, store owner (of Reclaim in Sydney’s Summer Hill and formerly Glebe), cabaret crooner and Playschool presenter… and mother of six (yes, six!)
I never cease to be inspired by her energy and refusal to be pigeonholed, as well as her generosity. Monica’s the type of woman you just know has at least ten good ideas before breakfast and, despite a ferociously busy schedule, always manages to help friends & family and still make you feel she has all the time in the world to chat with you. And she can’t sit still. I asked Mon about her tips for life, which I think we could all benefit from. Here they are:
1. Keep fit – I swim 3-4 times a week and go jogging. My energy also comes from my kids. They’re at such an enjoyable age. Being with them always gives me energy. Plus I cook all the time and eat fresh, beautiful food.
2. I’ve been a mum since I was 19, and have always done everything by instinct.
3. Make the world your address – I love travelling (the talented Ms. Trapaga currently lives between NY and Sydney… what a dream) and love how you can reinvent yourself. When you travel you have no past, no history, and people take you at face value.
4. Face your fears and look them dead in the eye, even for one minute a day – I was robbed in my house at 2am with a crowbar the week before my wedding. It didn’t hit me at first that I could have been killed, but months later I was terrified to walk down the street. Then I thought, I’m not going to live like this. I went to NY and found an apartment in the scariest borough I could find, walking everywhere on my own. My husband and family accepted it was something I had to do. Life’s too short.
5. Make the world a little more beautiful with the things you do (and she does).
Reclaim by Monica Trapaga
48 Lackey Street, Summer Hill NSW
Tel: (02) 9716 0144
Operating Hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week
The new look Reclaim in Summer Hill
Michael will look after you... do visit soon
Afternoon, Madam – how can we help?
Someone had better snap up this American pharmacy / haberdashery shop fitting quicksmart from DuckEgg Blue Quintessetial, for I’m a-pining away for it (no pun intended). Perhaps I could explode the kitchen wall to make room? My dream house contains one just like it.
Hardware & Haberdashery at The Society Inc.
I’m planning on heading here this week to see the latest incarnation of The Society Inc. and pick up one or two crafty wares. I always find a treasure or two to bring home from each visit.
Craft for fidgeters
Tea cosy one
I’m restless. As far as relaxing goes, I think I’ve lost the knack.
Behold, the evidence: two tea cosies salvaged from leftover Echino & Liberty fabrics, and a decorated doily thingummy for afternoon tea parties. I had the urge to make something useful – can you tell how I spend my time these days if these are the first items which spring to mind?
Sew be it
Tea cosy two: front
Tea cosy two: back
Calico & Ivy goodness
And a bag full of goodies from Calico & Ivy. Told you I was heading over there quicksmart. What a divine, delicious shop. And they were lovely to Olive, too.
Calico & Ivy
Great to hear this popular Perth store has opened new digs in Sydney. I haven’t been in yet, but planning to scoot on over and pick up some Liberty print asap – they appear to stock a vast amount, along with wonderful Milla Mia patterns (featured here earlier).
Calico & Ivy
10 Birchgrove Rd
Balmain
Monique Germon’s STORY
Tamara Maynes cross-stitch
Oh I love this new online store with products I’ve not seen elsewhere:
“STORY is the curation of ideas through product, word & the exploration of a new kind of narrative. We take pleasure in exhibiting the work of individuals who make a significant contribution through the production of exceptional art & design. We also take great pleasure in exhibiting the brands of like-minded others that produce items that transcend conventional market standards. STORY reveres authenticity above all & pays homage to this as a style unto itself. In other words, we were born rural and remain so. Most importantly, we honour the act of storytelling as an art form.”
- Monique Germon, Proprietor
Amelia Earheart collar
Sienna the Bookblock table
Storybook brooch II
Unwritten Book notebook
Tara Badcock tea cosy
Terribly fab Tessuti
Trip the light fantastic
A while before xmas I went hunting about for some fabrics and embellishment to zhoosh up a couple of otherwise-plain vintage finds for the party season (a fifties bolero made from a rich ottoman fabric, and a simple black sheath dress). Here’s what I found at the ever-inspiring Tessuti. I could never grow bored of this place!
The Surry Hills branch - a trove for wedding lace
Marvellous Missoni
Love Liberty
And all that jazz
Feeling vintage
Manning the book stall at the Coffs Harbour Vintage Fair
We’ve just returned from a few days in Coffs Harbour, where I was speaking at the Vintage Fashion Fair and reading from A Life in Frocks. Thank you to the lovely blog readers who travelled from near & far to say hello, and to organiser Jeanette Luke, owner of From Here to Eternity, for inviting me to attend.
If you’re in Sydney this weekend a couple of the same dealers – including Coco Repose – will be trading at Becky Sharp’s Vanity Fair vintage market, held from 10-5 at the Paddington RSL on Saturday. Go forth and plunder a fab frock or two…
From Here to Eternity's Vintage Swimsuit exhibition
Jess Guthrie's Coco Repose stall
Feathered friend in stunning fuscia, Coco Repose